Typographical composing machine



June 1954 1.. ROSSETTO TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1952 i 9 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEYS Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE Louis Rossetto, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application May 9, 1952, Serial No. 286,986

17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as Linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices and spacebands are selectively composed in line in an assembler elevator, the elevator raised to line transfer position, the composed line transferred therefrom to the face of a mold for the casting of a type bar or slug, and the matrices and spacebands thereafter separated and returned to their respective storage magazines for further use.

In these machines, the line is transferred from the raised assembler elevator by means of a horizontally movable carriage comprising a slide being understood that the frictional resistance offered to the movement of the left-hand finger is overcome by the power applied to operate the carriage.

In traveling toward the casting mechanism, the line is transported by the line delivery carriage to a vertically movable first elevator which presents the line to a lower or casting position in front of a mold and between a pair of vise jaws, The line is then justified, that is to say, the wedge-shaped s-pacebands in the line are driven upwardly, expanding the line between the jaws. Thereupon, the molten metal is forced into the mold and against the line under considerable pressure. It is, therefore, extremely important that the line be fully expanded between the vise jaws, otherwise the metal in its liquid state will "be forced through any spaces or openings in the line, causing what is known in the trade as a squirt.

Since the vise jaws are preset to the length of line to be cast, it is evident that if the line, as

it is presented therebetween, is unduly short, the

justification mechanism will be unable to fully expand the line between the jaws, and in such event, as a safety measure to prevent a squirt, the casting mechanism is rendered inoperative in a manner well known. On the other hand, if

the line is toolong, as occasionally happens although other safety means are available to prevent it, the line will not be able to be accommodated between the preset jaws and jamming will occur. When such jamming occurs, the machine is adapted to be automatically disabled Without damage to the driving'mechanism of the machine,- but even so the condition is highly undesirable, not only because of the possible damage to the jaws and the probable damage to the end matrices in the line, but also because when such stoppage occurs the main cam shaft of the machine has to be reversed by hand in order to re-raise the first elevator.

The present invention is intended to insure that only lines of proper length and within justification range will be presented to the casting mechanism. By setting the long finger of the line delivery slide according to the length of line to be cast, the distance between the fingers is utilized to measure the line while it is bein raised by the assembler elevator. Since the elevator in its uppermost position releases the line delivery carriage and since the release of the line delivery carriage initiates the automatic cycle of the machine, an excellent opportunity is thus afforded to measure the line accurately before the release of the delivery carriage. According to the present invention, if the line as it is being raised and measured between the fingers is either too long or too short, the line delivery carriage is positively locked out of operation, preventing transfer of the line and holding the line in the delivery carriage with the machine stopped until correction is made.

The present invention is of particular advantage in machines equipped with automatic tape control units, such as Teletypesetter units, where supervision of the machines during operation is at a minimum and automatic safety controls must take the place of the judgment of the operator.

The details of the present invention will be more fully described in the specification which follows.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the line transfer mechanism of a Linotype machine embodying the present safety mechanism and the electrical control circuits therefor; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the long finger of the line delivery carriage, showing the line measuring means associated therewith.

The matrices X and spacebands Y are delivered in the usual way to the assembler elevator I, wherein they are composed in line. After composition, the elevator is raised into registration with an intermediate channel 2, and the composed line transported therethrough into the first elevator (not shown) which carries the line to the casting mechanism. The shifting of the composed line from the assembler elevator to the first elevator is effected by means of a line delivery carriage comprising a horizontal slide or body portion 3 and two line engaging fingers 4 and 5. The slide 3 is supported in guideways in the front frame A of the machine and is moved to the left in the transfer of the line, and back again, by a power operated lever (not shown). The short right-hand finger 5 is rigidly secured to the slide, whereas the long left-hand finger 4 is adjustably mounted with reference thereto, being attached to a separate frictionally movable block 6 also slidably arranged in guideways in the front frame A of the machine. The setting of the left-hand finger 4 in relation to the righthand finger is determined by an adjustable stop i carried by the slide 3, and said stop is adapted to abut against the block 6 in order to set the finger i in accordance with the length of line being composed in the assembler elevator, which length should coincide with the length of line for which the vise jaws (not shown) are preset to receive. The stop is held in its adjusted position by a finger operated pawl 8 which cooperates with teeth formed in the front face of the slide 3.

In operation, when the line delivery carriage is moved to the left to transport the line from the assembler elevator to the first elevator via the intermediate channel, the left-hand finger 4, as usual, is frictionally held at rest until the leading matrix in the line is carried against it by the advance of the right-hand finger 5, whereupon the left-hand finger is carried along by the composed line until the carriage reaches its delivery position, it being understood, of course, that the power applied to advance the carriage is sufficient to overcome the frictional resistance of the left-hand finger.

After the line is delivered to the first elevator, the line delivery carriage is returned to the right in position to receive the next succeeding line, the stop I of the slide serving to return the long finger to the proper preset position.

The long finger 4, in addition to its other functions, forms a limiting surface for the left-hand end of the composed line just as soon as the elevator I starts its upward movement, and for that reason the finger 4 is appreciably longer than the finger 5. Also, the long finger is split, that is, the lower part of the long finger is hinged at 4 to the upper part to enable the operator to conveniently remove matrices from the assembler elevator as well as to prevent any tendency of the long finger to accidentally damage a spaceband upon the return movement of the slide.

As thus far explained, the operating parts are standard and in themselves form no part of the present invention. In accordance with said invention, the length of the composed line is measured between the long and short fingers of the delivery slide as it is being raised by the assembler elevator, and, if it is found to be within the justification range, the line will be conveyed by the delivery slide to the first elevator in the usual manner. If, however, the line is found to be too long or too short, the line delivery carriage will be held out of operation by a. positive locking 4 device, thereby preventing transfer of th line and preventing start of the machine.

In the embodiment illustrated, the delivery slide 3 is provided with an extension 3 having a notch 3 therein, which notch is meant, under the conditions above set forth, to be engaged by a latch 9. The latch 9 is pivotally mounted at one end, as at 15, to the front frame A of the machine and at the other end is connected to the armature ll of a solenoid II through a link l2. The latch 9 is normally held out of operative en gagement with the notch 3 by a spring 13, but under long or short line conditions, the solenoid H is adapted to be energized, thereby pivoting the latch into operative engagement with the notch against the action of the spring.

Turning now to the line measuring means, the long finger 5 is provided with a double throw leaftype switch actuated by a horizontally movable plunger 14 set in the long finger behind a leaf spring 15. The lower end of the spring i5 is attached to the lower portion of the inside face (that is, the surface facing the composed line) of th long finger, and the upper end of the spring is maintained somewhat away from the surface of the finger by the plunger. Three leaf contacts !5, H, #8 depend from an insulation block l9 attached to the outside face of the long finger. As shown in Fig. 1, the contacts Iii and 18 are grounded to the machine, ground being represented by the reference numeral 20, and the longer middle contact H, which incidentally is the hot leaf, extends downwardly to the extent that its movement tothe right or the left between the contacts i6 and I8 is effected by the plunger l4. Since the plunger l4 operatively engages the hot contact H, the tip Hi thereof should be insulated.

In the normal position of the parts, the contacts I1 and I8 are closed, the contact leaf I1, in its normal position to the right, serving to maintain the plunger l4 in its rightward position against the leaf spring I5. A collar l4 (see Fig. 2) of the plunger establishes such righward position. The leaf supporting block i9 is provided with two downward projections 19 which carry screws 2| (see Fig. l) for adjusting the fixed contacts is and I8 relatively to the middle movable contact 11.

The matrices and spacebands are assembled in the elevator I from right to left against a yielding finger (not shown), and the last matrix to be assembled in the line is located in the elevator in such position that, when elevated, said matrix will be in close proximity to the righthand finger 5. In other words, the right extremity of composed lines is always fixed in relation to the finger 5, whereas the left-hand extremity varies accordin to the length of each particular line. Consequently, when adjusted in proper relationship with respect to the right-hand finger, the left-hand finger 5 serves as an excellent detecting means for measuring the length of the line to insure that it is of proper measure.

When the long finger has been properly preadjusted in relation to the short finger, the left ends of composed lines which are within the range of justification will engage the leaf spring I5, as they are being raised in the assembler elevator, and thereby cause the plunger E4: to shift the contact I? to the left away from the contact l3 but not far enough to reach contact l6 (see Fig. 2). If the line is too long, the plunger 14 will act to close the contacts l6 and H (see broken lines in Fig. 2), while if theline. is, too

short, it will produce no movement of the plunger [4 whatsoever, leaving the contacts I! and i8 closed.

It is seen, therefore, that in the case of a line which is either too long or too short, one set of the contacts is closed, thereby conditioning an electrical circuit to energize the solenoid II at the appropriate time, and as described above, the energization of the said solenoid acts to pivot the latch 9 into locking engagement with the slide extension 3 preventing the usual transfer movement to the left of the line delivery slide 3. Since the operation of the delivery slide to the left is spring powered, although cam controlled, there is no damage to the machine parts when the normal operation of the slide is thus frustrated.

In tracing out the circuit, the closing of either set of contacts 15 and I! or I! and 18 conditions a circuit from the grounded contact 16 or 8 (whichever the case may be) through the contact I1, and thence through the connection 2d and the microswitches 25 and 26 (the former being normally open and the latter being normally maintained closed) to one terminal of battery B, and from the other terminal thereof through a relay 2'5 to ground 23. Once the circuit is conditioned, the fiow of current will be established only when both of the switches 25 and 2B are closed.

It is, of course, necessary that the above circuit be established from the contact I! to the connecting lead 24 regardless of the particular setting of the long finger 4 in relation to the short finger 5. Hence, a long electrical conductor or trolley 30 is attached to the underside of the standard structure 31 which projects forwardly above the intermediate channel 2, and the lead 24 is connected directly to the conductor 30, while the bent leaf l'l which may be attached to or made integral with the contact 27, maintains sliding contact with the conductor 30.

When current flows through the above described circuit, closing the relay 21, the armature 21 thereof is pivoted, thereby closing normally open contact 23 to complete a circuit from the A. C. voltage supply, designated by the reference character C, to the solenoid i l.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that all composed lines are measured between the fingers 4 and 5 as they are raised by the assembler elevator l, and that lines which are either too lon or too short in relation to the measure for which the long finger is set will condition electrical circuits for the operation of the solenoid I I, although the flow of current to actually operate the solenoid can only be established when the switch 25 is closed and provided the switch 26 remains closed.

Because the contacts I! and 18 are normally closed to detect short lines, the open switch 25 prevents the flow of current except when the assembler elevator I has reached a level which insures that composed line therein has been accurately measured. The switch may be conveniently mounted on the lower portion of the intermediate channel 2 and may be closed at the proper time by a cam or inclined surface l formed on the elevator.

The normally closed switch 26 is intended to permit the flow of current to the solenoid I! before, but not after, the line delivery slide 3 begins its transfer movement. Were it not for the switch 26, the solenoid would be actuated during every transfer movement, even though the line were of proper measure, as soon as the short finger moved the composed line into contact with the long finger in the normal transfer movement. In the normal transfer movement, as described above, it is the composed line in its advance to the left by the short finger 5 that picks up the long finger 4 and carries it along therewith; consequently, each time the composed line picks up the long finger, it will cause the contacts I6 and i! to close. A cam surface 3 on the delivery slide extension 3 serves to maintain the contacts of the switch 26 closed, but

only when the delivery slide is at rest in its extreme rightmost position. However, as soon as the delivery slide begins its transfer movement to the left, the leftward movement of the cam surface 3 therewith will permit the contacts of the switch 26 to open, so that the solenoid I! cannot be thereafter energized until the return of the delivery slide to its extreme rightward or line receivin position.

In commercial machines, it is possible to set the long finger to em settings, but for purposes of the present invention finer settings will undoubtedly be preferred. Also, the scale to which the adjustments will be made should take into consideration the fact that the position of the long finger should be such as to permit lines over the desired measure to be presented be tween the fingers, although, of course, if the line is so long that it cannot be thus presented between the fingers, the lower hinged portion of the finger will break as intended and the rise of the assembler elevator i will be obstructed, preventing the line from reaching the transfer level. Such obstruction will not generally do any damage even if the machine is operating under automatic control because the standard control units are provided with slip clutches which disengage the elevator from the driving means.

The invention has been shown and described in preferred form only, and obviously many variations and modifications may be made there in and in its mode of application which will still be comprised within its spirit. For example, the electrical connections may be substituted by mechanical linkages, or the safety device may be simplified in many respects by making it responsive to long lines only or to short lines only. It is understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a, typographical composing machine, the combination of a line delivery carriage having two fingers to engage the line at opposite ends, one finger being fixed to said carriage and the other finger being adjust-able with respect thereto according to the length of line desired, an assembler elevator for shifting the composed line to the delivery carriage, .positive locking means to prevent the line delivery movement of said car riage, an electrical element to actuate said looking means, and means associated with the adjustable finger for conditioning said element for operation when lines of other than the proper measure are presented between the fingers.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1, including additional means controlled by the assembler elevator for conditioning the electrical element for operation.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1, in-

eluding means controlled by the line delivery movement of the carriage for preventing the establishment of the circuit to the electrical element.

4. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a line delivery carriag having two fingers to engage the line at opposite ends, one finger being fixed to said carriage and the other finger being adjustable with respect thereto according to the length of line desired, an assembler elevator for shifting the composed line to the delivery carriage, positiv locking means to prevent the line delivery movement of said carriage, an electrical element to actuate said locking means, contacts for conditioning said element for operation, and means associated with said adjustable finger and controlled by lines over the desired measure for closing said contacts.

5. In a typographical composing machine, the combination of a line delivery carriag having two fingers to engage the line at opposite ends, one finger being fixed to said carriage and the other finger being adjustable with respect thereto according to the length of line desired, an assembler elevator for shifting the composed line to the delivery carriage, positive locking means to prevent the line delivery movement or" said carriage, an electrical element to actuate said locking means, normally closed contacts for conditioning said element for operation, and means associated with said adjustable finger and controlled by lines of the desired measure to open said contacts to uncondition said element for operation.

6. A combination according to claim 4 characterized in that the means associated with said adjustable finger includes a movable member set in said finger and is maintained in a position to be moved variable increments by lines of or over the desired measure and to be unaffected by lines under the desired measure.

7. A combination according to claim 4 including a switch controlled by the rise of the assembler elevator f r establishing the circuit to the electrical element.

8. A combination according to claim a including a switch controlled by the line delivery move ment of the carraige for preventing the establishment of the circuit to the eiectrical element.

9. In a typographical compo-sing machine, the

combination of a horizontally movable line delivery carriage having a long left hand finger and a short right hand finger to engage the line at opposite ends, an assembler elevator for positioning the composed line between the fingers for transfer, line measuring means mounted on the carriage for determining if the line as positioned between the fingers is of the desired measure, and means responsive to the line measuring means for locking the carriage against line delivery movement if the line to be transferred is not of the desired measure.

10. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the right hand finger is fixed to the cariage and the left hand finger is adjustable with respect thereto in accordance with the length of the line desired, and wherein the line measuring means is adjustable with the left hand finger to cooperate with composed lines of the desired length.

11. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the carriage locking means is normally inoperative and is rendered operative by composed lines which are outside the desired measure only when the assembler elevator is raised to its line delivery position.

12. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the carriage locking means is normally inoperative and is rendered operative by composed lines which are outside the desired measure only when the line delivery carriage occupies its line receiving position.

13. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the carriage locking means is normally inoperative and is rendered operative by composed lines which are outside the desired measure only when the assembler elevator is raised to its line delivery position and only when the line delivery carriage occupies its line receiving position.

14. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the line measuring means includes a movable member set in the left hand finger and which is maintained in a position to be moved variable increments by lines of or over the desired measure and to be unaffected by lines under the desired measure.

15. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the carriage locking means is controlled from the line measuring means through an electric circuit including a pair of normally closed contacts which condition the circuit for operation when lines are of less than the desired measure and which are opened by the left hand finger member when lines are of the desired measure.

16. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the carriage locking means is cntrolled from the line measuring means through an electric circuit including a pair of normally open contacts which are closed by the left hand finger member when lines are of greater than the desired measure and which condition the circuit for operation under such conditions.

17. A combination according to claim 14, wherein the carriage locking means is controlled from the line measuring means through an electric circuit including two pairs of contacts which condition the circuit for operation, one pair of contacts being normally closed for lines of less than the desired measure and the other of contacts being normally open for lines or greater than the desired measure, and wherein both pairs of contacts are kept open by the left hand finger member when lines are of the desired measure to uncondition the circuit for operation under such conditions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,156,027 Armstrong Oct. 5, 1915 1,182,743 Bolles May 9, 1916 1,970,566 Kleinschmidt Aug. 21, 1934 2,455,279 Swatzell Nov. 30, 1948 

